Embargo Act
Definition
The Embargo Act was a law passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson in December 1807. It prohibited American ships from trading with foreign ports, aiming to force Britain and France to respect American neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars.
Analogy
Imagine if you're upset with your friends for not inviting you to their parties. So, you decide not only are you not going to their parties anymore, but also that no one from your house will go either. That's what America did with the Embargo Act - it stopped all trade with other countries hoping they would change their behavior.
Related terms
War of 1812: A conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain over British violations of U.S. maritime rights.
Non-Intercourse Act: This act replaced the Embargo Act in 1809, reopening trade with all nations except Britain and France until they ceased violating US neutral rights.
Napoleonic Wars: A series of major conflicts pitting the French Empire against a fluctuating array of European powers formed into various coalitions between 1803 and 1815.
"Embargo Act" appears in:
Practice Questions (3)
- What was the Embargo Act?
- What was the main consequence of Jefferson's Embargo Act?
- How did the Embargo Act impact American foreign trade during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency?
Resources
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